Central Saanich council picks Centennial Park for new cenotaph

• Central Saanich council approved Centennial Park as the location for a proposed new memorial cenotaph. They also decided that funds be re-allocated from their 2017 budget to the 2016 period. They also accepted a donation from the Masonic Lodge of $10,000 to the project. The District will also apply for a federal grant, meaning the project must be completed by March 31, 2016.

• Central Saanich will no longer fund maintenance projects in its grant-in-aid program. The change affects district-owned facilities leased to third parties.

• Council voted to cap the District’s 2016 grants-in-aid funding to 0.7 of one per cent of their annual budget — the equivalent of $99,500.

• The Friends of Island View Beach have asked the District for a contingency plan to provide for immediate repairs if a sea wall or natural berms in the park be breached due to the Super El Nino weather system this winter and spring. Mayor Ryan Windsor said he would discuss this further with the Capital Regional District, operators of the park.